Policy & Advocacy

In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains a network among its units for influencing policy.

Standards

As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure that individuals with exceptionalities have access to well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.

Membership

Through the vision and dedication of more than 22,000 members, CEC sets the standard for high quality education for children and youth with exceptionalities. And, CEC is known as THE source for information, resources and professional development for special educators.

Professional Development

You’ll find professional development offerings to meet the needs of all special educators – including those of you who are time-crunched, cost-conscious or in need of CEUs in order to meet state obligations. Please join us and invite others to engage the potential!

Special Ed Topics

Special Education Topics includes information about the different exceptionality areas; international special education; hot topics in special education; and professional practice topics such as assessment, evidence-based practices and inclusion.

Tuesday, Feb. 18
4-5 p.m. ET

As educators, we are trained and credentialed in how to teach our students—but not in how to work effectively with colleagues, principals, or parents. From time to time, every educator needs to have hard conversations. They may involve giving difficult feedback, delivering unwelcome news, asking for a change in behavior, or giving an apology. And although you may never find it easy to have hard conversations, with preparation and practice you can manage them with greater professionalism, compassion, composure, and effectiveness. This webinar addresses how to prepare effectively for hard conversations. We will explore the factors that make some discussions so difficult, and offer a set of questions you need to answer in order to prepare for a good, hard conversation.

Learner Outcomes:

After completing this program, you will be able to:

Identify the types of hard conversations that are most difficult for you

Identify competing commitments that make it difficult to initiate hard conversations

List questions to ask yourself to figure out when a hard conversations is worth having

Apply the principles of clarity, crafting, and communication in planning a hard conversation

Presenter:

Jennifer Abrams is a national and international educational consultant for public and private schools, charter schools, universities, and nonprofits. She has been a high school English teacher, a teacher coach, and induction program coordinator. She now trains and coaches teachers and administrators on successful teaching practices, new teacher support, supervision and evaluation, generational savvy, and effective collaboration skills. Jennifer holds a master’s degree in education from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Tufts University.

Jennifer will facilitate a full-day pre-convention workshop, Having Hard Conversations, on Wednesday, April 9, in Philadelphia. Find more information here.